Thursday, January 5, 2017

2017 Thursday Bead Post #1: Happy New Year

Hope everyone is having a Happy 2017 so far! I didn't have a great beaded picture to use for this year's first blog post so I figured I would share my classic "Bear says Happy New Year" pictures I took in 2012!

The last two years my blog projects both had a theme which ended up being beaded beads. This year I am not going to be that specific, instead I will be trying to cover everything I know and want to know about bead weaving. I will be writing 52 blog posts- one every Thursday! (the 52 includes this one and a final summary)

Here are my "rules" to help keep me accountable:

1. I will make a new post every Thursday. (51 more times)2. I will update upcoming blog posts at the end of every post in the case that somebody wants to follow along or for the over achievers who have to know what is next.3. I will try to use the things that I already have and not make my weekly blog an excuse to buy beads or tools. I will make up other reasons to buy beads and tools 😇_______________________________________________________This week I am going to quickly talk about the things I use to do my beading and state my disclaimer:

I am not affiliated with, paid by, or endorsed by anyone. By posting about beading and/or beading products I am not claiming to be an expert, nor am I suggesting the way that I do anything or the products I use are the best/correct/only way. All opinions expressed here are mine, and aren't meant to be taken as anything more than an opinion or suggestion from some stranger on the internet 😀

When I am beading there are tools that I always use. There are tools that I sometimes use, but we will get to those as the year continues!

8lb test Fireline: I have tried other threads and will always try new threads but this is my preference for most kinds of beadweaving. I like the 300yd spools they sell at the sporting goods store.

Size 10 Short Tulip beading needles: they aren't really short, but they are durable, the eye is easy to see, and they are small enough that even size 15 beads slide over them with no problems. These are the needles I use most of the time.

Scissors for fishing line: any kind of scissors that will snip Fireline will do, but I like the ones from the fishing section at *gasp* Walmart. The scissors are cheap, they last a long time for scissors used for Fireline, and they do a good job.

Some kind of beading mat. I was lucky enough to get a Bead On It Board for Christmas this year, so it is in my picture. So far I love it but any bead mat or flat surface that prevents beads from rolling around and spilling all over the place will do. To be honest, I used to bead on a paper plate, then I learned about beading mats. I would cut the beading mats to fit inside a frisbee or plastic plate.

A lighter or thread burner. I don't need it for every project, but it is a tool I use when beading. I have never tried a "thread zapper" but have heard it does the same thing.

I can't wait to see where this year's blog goes. I have do have a rough idea/plan of the things I am going to cover, but as everything else in my life, we will see how it goes!

Coming weeks:

Jan 12th:Even count Peyote Stitch: I will be using two colors of Delicas (a blue color and a white). Delicas are beads made by the Miyuki company in Japan and are very consistent in shape and come in more colors than I will ever be able to afford in my lifetime!January 19th: Odd count Peyote StitchJanuary 26th:More Peyote stitch ~ Bead it Forward squares.